Queen Street (the main street of Moruya) and other news from 100 years ago.

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of this time in 1915, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

DROWNING – A very sad drowning fatality occurred at Narooma on Sunday morning, when Miss Lua Rosalie Hollingdale, aged 18 years, a visitor from Sydney, met her death. Mrs. Hollingdale, accompanied by her two daughters and son, arrived at Narooma on Saturday afternoon and put up at Scantlebury’s Boarding House.

On Sunday morning the two girls and their brother went in their Car to a small lake (really an arm of the sea) about a quarter of a mile from Narooma, to bathe. They had donned their bathing attire and were ready to enter the water when a bull rushed down to the beach and commenced tearing up the sand with his hoofs. The bathers became alarmed and rushed into the water for safety, but went out of their depth and got into difficulties. The brother managed to rescue the younger sister, but the elder girl sank, and the spot where she went down could not be located.

The alarm was given, and in a short time several went to the spot, but it was threequarters of an hour before Mr. Thomsen located the body and recovered it. Efforts at resuscitation proved unsuccessful… 30/1/1915

STREETS AND ROADS – We have again been asked by a number of our most progressive Citizens to invite the special attention of the Shire Council to the very bad state of repair in which Moruya’s main street, Queen St., is in at the present time, also the main road to Bateman’s Bay near the top of Polwamre. We have written and re written about the rough condition in which this particular portion of our main South Coast road has been allowed to remain for many years past, but the “powers that be” appear to turn a deaf ear to our pleadings in the public interest. Queen St, we commend to Councillor Flood and the Polwamra abortion to Crs. Mallon and Milne in whose riding it exists. 30/1/1915

PIANO TUNING – Mr. C.A. Bowring, the well-known and high-class piano tuner, who is now at Coxon’s Hotel, will visit Bodalla, Narooma and Tilba early next week. 30/1/1915

BATEMAN’S BAY PUNT – On Tuesday last the new motor-power punt, built by Mr. Turnbull for Bateman’s Bay ferry service, was hitched onto the wire ropes, and by 2.40 p.m. was running to the entire satisfaction of the builder and all concerned. The Government Inspector arrived the same night to take over the punt. Without doubt the new structure will be found an immense improvement on the obsolete conveyance. Mr. Turnbull was complimented on all sides on the up-to-date and faithful construction of the new motor punt, which only occupies 3 minutes and 5 seconds in travelling from side to side… 30/1/1915

ANNUAL RACES – Since the establishment of the Moruya Registered Race Club, some 35 years ago, there has never been anything approaching the large number of horses nominated for the principal events as has been made this year. To make things better all the horses entered, with the exception of two, have arrived, together with others intended for the open races. We congratulate the management, especially the courteous Secretary (Mr. F. Flanagan) on the record entry and bright prospects of a record attendance. 30/1/1915

Seventeen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1914 are available ($5 ea) from the Society’s rooms. Copies of local newspapers from the 1860s to date can be viewed at the Society’s Family History Research Centre (Ph 4474 3224) situated at the rear of the Pioneer Museum in Campbell St. Moruya (mdhs.org.au).

Our latest publication entitled Kiora Kith and Kin, by Shirley Jurmann is also now available from the Society for $20.